Do you truly understand what is meant by the gospel? If you died tonight, do you know that you would go to heaven, or do you have doubts about where you will spend eternity? And what can you do if you’re not sure? These are important questions! Please don’t leave your eternity to chance!

Also:

What do believers need to remember when sharing the gospel with friends and family?

Welcome to “God’s Word Day by Day,” where I blog through the Bible in a Year. I hope you’ll join me every day. If you’re not already signed up, you can do it here or subscribe and watch on YouTube.

Today’s Readings:

Job 31 & 32
Psalm 98.1-3
Proverbs 23.17-18
1 Corinthians 2.1-16

If You Died Tonight … Where Would You Spend Eternity?

1 Corinthians 2.1-16:

The Power of the Gospel

And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified (vv. 1-2).

That is something we all need to remember as we witness to our friends and loved ones. We can’t “talk them into anything.” The power lies in the gospel and God’s Word. We need to share the truth with them by pointing them to the Scripture.

Martha Peace, who wrote The Excellent Wife: A Biblical Perspective, said that before she came to know the Lord, some Christian friends had told her to read the book of John and to keep reading it until it made sense to her. She was depressed and pretty messed up, but she did. And one night after reading it several times, faith came alive in her heart!

We certainly don’t want to beat people over the head with the Bible, but we must realize that it is the Scriptures that contain the power of God for salvation!

**If You Died Tonight?**

What about you? Are you reading this and wondering, “Would I go to heaven?” Please don’t push that thought away. Talk to God. Pull out your Bible or get one. You can even download a free Bible app called YouVersion. Begin reading the book of John. Ask God to reveal Himself to you as He did to Martha. You can read more about the gospel and salvation here.

[Tweet “If you died tonight, would you go to heaven? #eternity #heaven #soulsurvival”]

Or maybe you have been in church for a long time, or you went when you were younger. Maybe you “prayed a prayer” once, joined a church, or got baptized … but you still have doubts. The aging Apostle John said this about why God had him write the book of 1 John:

These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God (1 Jn. 5.13).

Did you notice that phrase? “…that you may KNOW”! God wants us to have confidence and peace in knowing that we belong to Him. He wants us to have that security. Read more here. But our eternal security is not based on what we do; it is a faith transaction.

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast (Eph. 2.8-9).

If you would like to talk to someone about your eternal destiny, find a bible teaching church in your area. Don’t wait. If you’re not sure where to go, leave me a comment (I won’t publish it) and I will do my best to put you in touch with a good church. Don’t leave your eternity to chance!

[Tweet “”These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life …” (1 Jn. 5.13). Do you? #gospel #eternity #soulsurvival”]

Today’s Other Readings:

Job 31 & 32:

Then I Could Understand

If you have been reading along with me or have read the book of Job in the past, you know that Job has been trying to make sense of all his suffering. He ends his defense in chapter 31 with a series of “ifs.” If I had looked on a woman lustfully (Job 31.1, 9), if I had not been generous (Job 31.16-21), if I had treated my employees unfairly (Job 31.13), if I had trusted in wealth and not God (Job 31.24-25), if I had hidden my sin (Job 31.33), if I had stolen (Job 31.39), then I could understand all this.

We are often like Job. We think if we keep the law (at least our interpretation of it), God is obligated to bless us.

After Job and his three friends had stopped speaking, a younger friend, Elihu, says in effect, I can’t keep quiet any longer. I think you’re all wrong. Elihu says some good things, but soon … God will begin to speak and answer all of them. I hope you’ll follow along with me over the next couple of days as we look at God’s response. Understanding it can help us in our trials, as well.

Psalm 98.1-3:

Fresh Worship

Again in this psalm, we are invited to sing “a new song” (v. 1). We are to praise and worship God in a way that stays fresh and with a growing understanding of all He has provided through His salvation.

Proverbs 23.17-18:

Don’t Envy Sinners

Do not let your heart envy sinners, but be zealous for the fear of the LORD all the day; for surely there is a hereafter, and your hope will not be cut off.

It is so easy to look around and see wicked people who seem to be prospering financially with beautiful homes and successful careers, and seemingly few problems. If you struggle with that, go back and read the story in Luke 16.19-31. We must keep an eternal perspective and remember that this life is but a vapor compared to eternity.

[Tweet “”Do not let your heart envy sinners, but be zealous for the fear of the LORD all the day; for surely there is a hereafter, and your hope will not be cut off.” #faith #heaven #soulsurvival”]

What Do You Think?

How did you answer the question, “If you died tonight, do you know where you would spend eternity?” Do you have complete confidence in your eternal security?